Tag Archives: bridal

We’ve been using Big Daddy Walker Productions for our DJ services for all our events this year and I’ve been LOVING them! They’re always on-time, always prepared, and always keep the energy up with our crowds!

We’ve had nightmares before with other DJ services… mic feedback so bad people left, batteries dying mid-presentation with NO backup batteries, speakers dying with no back-up, you name it! So, I of course was nervous about going with someone new this year, but they’ve honestly been AMAZING! Haven’t had one issue all year, and that’s saying a LOT with how complicated our events can be! For example, our most recent event, at the Cincinnati Art Museum, last year attendees said they couldn’t hear me emceeing because of all the echoes in the big marble room we were in. The DJ with BDWP came in this year and tweaked for hours prior to the event to make sure the levels were just right to avoid echos. We didn’t have ANY complaints this year about not being able to hear — I’m SO thankful!

At the event on Friday, I got to talking with the DJ about what’s new with biz and he said that they’re now offering a new, more affordable, package for smaller weddings who just need the basics. I know a lot of my millennial friends (geesh that makes me sound old) are having very intimate weddings now, and are more budget conscious than ever, so I know this is right up their alley! I figured I’d do a blog about it in case any one else out there is planning a small event or wedding where this would be a good fit for them! Here are more details about the package:

For smaller weddings/events of 100 guests or less. $695 BASIC MUSIC SERVICE:

He’s a DJ, he’s an emcee, he’s an officiant… he’s Big Daddy Walker! I just worked with him for the first time and it was AMAZING! Read on to see how they can be a one-stop-shop contact for all your event’s entertainment needs (aka less work and more fun for you!).

Allen Walker (left) is the founder of Big Daddy Walker Productions and offers DJ and officiant services for your wedding.

Picking a DJ for your event is important. The DJ can make the difference between a fun, well-put-together celebration and a boring or disastrous one, so you don’t want to pick just any business. For a professional DJ service for your wedding, corporate event, grand opening, birthday, graduation, or anniversary celebration, go with Big Daddy Walker Productions. Owned by Allen Walker, who is also the main entertainer, Big Daddy Walker Productions is Cincinnati’s most awarded Wedding DJ company, having received the Best of Weddings honor from The Knot for seven straight years.

Big Daddy Walker Productions does more than just playing top 40 hits and providing karaoke. It provides a level of service other companies don’t.

“We coordinate with the bride and groom through the planning process,” Walker explains. “We notice the small things everyone else thinks isn’t their job. We fix issues before they become a problem. So you could say you hired a professional DJ/MC and got the reception time planner also. We make the bride and groom look great. We speak professionally and clearly during announcements.”

Big Daddy Walker Productions aims to provide an event experience that guests will remember for years, and for the right reasons. “We make sure their wedding isn’t the one their friends are talking about being boring when no one else is around.”

Before founding Big Daddy Walker Productions, Walker was Countrywide Financial’s regional business development manager. He developed 300 sales consultations to perform at a high sales level with their real estate agents.

After he fell victim to the 2008 economic collapse, he decided to go back to school and get a degree in special education from Xavier University. During that process, he was encouraged by a friend to DJ. This part-time gig eventually became a full-time job, and “before I could graduate our company had grown to enough that it made more sense to continue with the DJ company,” says Walker.

Big Daddy Walker Productions was officially founded in 2010 and their business model developed quickly.

“We designed training manuals to duplicate how we offered our services and what small things made a BIG difference in making events not just ‘good’ but great,” Walker says. “We saw a need for strong quality DJs in this market that could speak well on the microphone and play the right music at the right time and started our business model accordingly.”

Walker has strong advice for anyone looking for a DJ company: Do your homework.

“Many times brides and grooms use a family friend or hire a DJ company without truly checking them out and I would caution anyone throwing an event to never try to save money on your event by hiring cheap, part time and unprofessional DJs,” Walker says.

He advises clients to make sure a DJ company is insured and pays for their music, and explains, “The quality in the speakers matter, the quality in the mixer matter, the quality in the microphones matter and most of all the quality in the people of the organization matter,” he says. “Don’t waste $24,400 on a wedding by only paying $600 for your DJ.”

This isn’t your entry level retail job that any teenager could fill, though. Those in this position make a career out of it, so this is a rare opportunity when one opens up! That’s why they’re looking for a special person to fill it… Super friendly (you’re working with people who are planning their big day so they want someone who will make it perfect!) with a passion for fashion, with a mature yet enthusiastic personality.

You have to be a self-starter too because you’ll be a part of a motivated sales team who celebrates both individual and group goals. You’ll make an excellent hourly rate with commission on every sale.

Responsibilities include assisting brides and bridesmaids in selecting and trying on gowns, coordinating matching accessories and determining proper sizing.

So, if you have a love for fashion and helping people, just click here to submit your resume and info, or call Mardi at 513-984-0796 with any questions.

2016 Cincinnati Wedding Film Festival at the Kenwood TheaterLast week, I had the honor of emceeing and getting Cincy Chic involved as the media sponsor for yet another great year of the Cincinnati Wedding Film Festival with True Artists Studio.

This was the fifth year for the festival and its fourth year at Kenwood theatre. With thousands of genre specific film festivals in existence, this is the one and only film festival for weddings, and it’s right here in Cincinnati! What I love about the event is that all the couples were there in the audience, popcorn in hand, to see their big day on the big screen and brides-to-be were wedding crashing from a theater seat. Very cool.

I learned years ago to wear my waterproof mascara to this event because I inevitably tear up at some point in the night watching these videos. It’s one of the most special days in a couple’s time together… the pinnacle moment when all the dreaming as a little girl, all the planning, and all the time dating that special someone turns into the day when you gather all your loved ones so you can shout from the mountain tops “This is my person!”

The love you see with each couple is so unique, so full, so pure, so genuine. I love watching these films because, after 7 years of marriage, I’m immediately taken back to our wedding day, and those feelings I felt as I saw him at the other end of the aisle, slipped that silver band on his finger, and kissed him for the first time as his wife… ahhh, I’m crying again!!

And I know if I’m feeling like this, I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to be one of the couples watching their film in the audience. So, I caught up with them to see what it was like and this is what they said…

Brian & Amanda Fitzpatrick“It’s been a year since our wedding, time flies! Seeing our video on the big screen was surreal. All of those moments from that day came flooding back and left me a pile of tears and goo (I’m also 9 months pregnant, ha!) Every time I watch that video I catch things in the background I missed time and time before, it’s literally like watching it for the first time all over again. This night was no exception!” ~ Amanda Fitzpatrick

“Seeing ourselves on the big screen was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We felt like movie stars for the night!” ~ Lindsey Bollin

“Watching our wedding film, as well as everyone else’s, it was surreal.True Artist Studio makes films, not just a wedding video. Every film we saw was completely different with each couple’s personality shining through. Each was a story beautifully unveiled through Shane and Sara’s creativity and genuine thoughtfulness. We could not be more pleased, enjoyed all of our time with TAS, and would suggest to anyone planning a wedding, Let them tell your story.” ~ Amy Holbrook

Gosh, it’s hard to believe it’s actually over! All the planning, visualizing, practicing… then the whirlwind of the two-day show… and then you sit, with your feet up on the couch, looking at all the fun pictures you took the event (which is what I’m doing right now)!

I emceed the fashion shows both days at Wendy’s Bridal Show last weekend, which was seriously one of the coolest shows I’ve ever been a part of to be honest (and just some quick math here, I’d say that’s over 100). New View Models provided all the models for the event, menswear was from Pepe Ramundo & Sons, and the bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses were from (you guessed it) Wendy’s Bridal! Some of my favorite brands featured were Allure, KITTYCHEN, and what ended up being my favorite, David Tutera for Mon Cheri.

As I noted in my emceeing script, the biggest trend for 2016 is attention to detail on the back of the gown with lace, beading and extra sparkle. Definitely a great event, and an especially fabulous fashion show.

Cincy Chic is working with the Reading Bridal District to put together this AWESOME event for local brides! Man, I wish there were events like this when I was getting married (does that make me sound old? haha!) But seriously, if you have wedding bells in your future, grab your gal pals and come to enjoy this fun night. You’ll get to pop in lots of fun bridal shops to get ideas, enjoy refreshments, and enter to win tons of prizes (like a $10k wedding giveaway!). All the details are below – hope to see you there!

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Reading Bridal District Fall In Love Bridal Show

September 17, 2015

Time: 6pm-9pm

Spend the evening on the streets of the Reading Bridal District & meet dozens of wedding professionals to make your wedding perfect & a chance to win a wedding giveaway.

SPECIAL OFFER: Print this Offer for 3 Free Raffle Tickets for the Giveaway

I cannot believe that Pete and I are coming up on our SEVENTH wedding anniversary soon! It seriously seems like yesterday, but in reality I know it wasn’t. Especially when I hear my younger friends (ack, that makes me sound old!) talk about using Pinterest to find all kinds of great ideas, and going to fun bridal shows to find the local vendors who will make their big day dreams come true.

Back in the day (yup, definitely old), there was no Pinterest and the bridal expos — the one or two a year that existed — were boring and held at the convention center downtown. So, all you ladies with wedding bells in your future, soak it in because this is a great time to be engaged! GO to these fun expos! GO with all your Pinterest boards created. Meet, greet and enjoy planning that super special day! Here are two expos coming up (one for all you gals up north closer to Dayton, and another one is downtown at the casino… yes, you can plan your wedding while visiting the casino… hey, win big and it’ll pay for it! haha!)

Earlier this year, the ladies at 915 monmouth street hosted the first Junk in the Trunk and it was a huge success (I wrote about it here solely because I thought the name was hilarious! haha!). Well, good news, my friends! They’re doing it again, and this time around, they expect even more sellers, even more buyers… and even more great junk!

November 11th from 12pm – 4pm, they’re hosting the second Junk in the Trunk – an event that allows to-be brides to purchase items that past brides used at their wedding. Past brides drop off their goods to us, the 915 ladies style everything to give you some great ideas and their studio transforms into a bridal retail space for one day. The 915 studio members will be on-hand to answer any questions or help you choose the perfect pieces for your wedding decor.

If you’re interested in selling some of your pieces, they ask that you fill out our submission form here to make sure we’re the right fit for you. All items will be looked over, evaluated and a small fee will be charged for all pieces accepted. They will be accepting submissions from now until September 30. Once they accept enough pieces to fill the studio, they will be closing off new items. They will not accept any items that have not gone through the submission process, so start digging now to find all of your wedding junk!

Ok, I know images of The Sopranos play in your mind when you hear the word “mafia.” But when you think about it, a mafia is really just a group of connected people who take care of each other. That’s what my friend Nidhi Bedi (recently featured here in Cincinnati Profile for being single & successful!) had in mind when she launched “A Bride’s Mafia.”

It all started when she and a few family members opened the super successful Elements Event Centre in Sharonville four years ago. I’ve done a Cincinnati.com event there and they do a lot of my Cincy Chic rentals/catering, so that’s how I got to know her. Nidhi helped to grow the business with things like their new limo division. Then, people started asking if she would plan their weddings.

That’s when she started A Bride’s Concierge, which is now A Bride’s Mafia (ABM). Nidhi is making it into a huge one-stop-shop wedding gallery, which is perfect because it’s centrally located in the city at 266 East Sharon Road, Glendale, OH 45246.

The idea is to take the pressure and stress of planning a wedding off the bride with the help of the ABM partners. These partners are hand-selected by Nidhi to be a part of their exclusive group of trusted vendors in the industry. ABM brides get a membership card, which gives them access to special discounts with ABM vendors, as well as complimentary admission to Bride Socials and Galas (aka you’re officially “connected” if you’re an ABM member)!

Feel free to contact Nidhi (she’s super nice and great to work with!) at nidhi@abridesmafia.com to set up a complimentary consultation and see if you’d like to “join the mafia”!